Michael Yao, whose experience also includes a 13-year stint with Goldman Sachs, joins the e-commerce giant at a time when most observers believe it is preparing for a future IPO.

Alibaba, China’s biggest e-commerce company, has hired former investment banker Michael Yao for a new role as head of corporate finance, according to sources.

The move, which comes after the company took its business-to-business unit Alibaba.com private earlier this year and completed the repurchase of half of Yahoo’s 40% stake last month, suggests that the group intends to remain active in terms of MA and capital markets transactions.